Grocery workers' union files complaints against companies

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_12281989

The Denver Post
Posted: 05/03/2009 12:30:00 AM MDT

A union representing about 17,000 grocery workers in Colorado has filed complaints accusing grocery chains of violating federal labor law as they face a May 9 deadline in contract talks.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 said Saturday that the companies have violated the National Labor Relations Act by not disclosing the terms of their agreement to team up in the bargaining. The union also claims King Soopers' ads for temporary workers at $10.25 an hour violate federal law because the wage exceeds the pay for many union workers.

Temporary workers would be hired if union members went out on strike.

King Soopers spokeswoman Diane Mulligan said the proposed pay is less than the average wage for regular employees. King Soopers and Safeway representatives said they routinely coordinate bargaining.

[niyad]

1. I have been calling the corporate offices of these two chains to let them know, in the strongest

terms possible, that I WILL NOT be crossing the union picket lines if it comes to that. as I pointed out to them, there is Whole Foods, and any number of hispanic and asian markets to which I can give my custom until the multi-millionaires running kroger and safeway stop trying to screw the workers.